Young U.S. missionary in serious condition; gored by bull at Fiestas de Zapote

Editor’s note (January 2nd, 2014) – This story has been edited to correct the victim’s name, which was originally misreported.

December 30th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) A young American missionary is clinging to life at the Calderon Guardia Hospital after being gored by a bull at the Fiestas de Zapote. The annual “bullfights” in Zapote are considered the largest of such events in the country.

The young man was identified as Derek Alan Pettner.

On Saturday, the man asked his friends to take him to the Fiestas de Zapote to celebrate his birthday, where he decided to enter the bullring and participate with the scores of other young men in the Costa Rican-style “bullfight.”

“Bullfights” in Costa Rica do not involve the serious injury or killing of the bull. Rather, scores of young men enter the ring and attempt to taunt and evade the charging bull.

According to reports from the Red Cross, the man was left in critical condition after being gored in the neck.

The man remains in critical condition at Calderon Guardia Hospital as of press time.